Lesson 2: How to Say "Between/Among" in Chinese?

Updated on May 22, 2024

Welcome to Lesson 2 (Level 2) of Ming Mandarin’s free online Mandarin Chinese lessons.

In this lesson, we’ll learn how to say “between” and “among” in Chinese.

Well, in Mandarin Chinese, there’s hardly any difference between “between” and “among” in Chinese. Let’s learn with examples!

Part 1

Case 1: 在……之间/中间 (zài……zhī jiān/zhōnɡ jiān): In or into the space separating two or more points, objects, people, etc.

Examples:

Mom and dad stand between the two children (爸爸妈妈站在两个孩子之间/中间, Bàbɑ māmɑ zhàn zài liǎnɡ ɡe háizi zhī jiān/zhōnɡjiān)
The dog is between the rabbit and the cat (狗在兔子和猫之间/中间, Gǒu zài tùzi hé māo zhījiān/zhōnɡjiān)
I found the letter amongst his papers (我在他的文件中找到这封信, Wǒ zài tāde wénjiàn zhōnɡ zhǎodào zhè fēnɡ xìn)

Case 2: 之间 (zhī jiān): A relationship, discussion, or difference between two people, groups, or things

Examples:

There is no contradiction between/among us (我们之间没什么矛盾, Wǒmen zhījiān méi shénme máodùn)
There have been intensive discussions between the two governments in recent days (最近两国政府之间进行了集中的会谈, Zuìjìn liǎnɡ ɡuó zhènɡfǔ zhī jiān jìnxínɡle jízhōnɡ de huìtán)

Case 3: 位于……之间 (wèi yú……zhī jiān): In or into the space separating two or more points, objects, people, etc.

Example:

Switzerland lies among France, Germany, Austria and Italy (瑞士位于法国、德国、奥地利和意大利之间, Ruìshì wèiyú Fǎɡuó、Déɡuó 、 Àodìlì hé Yìdàlì zhī jiān)

Case 4: 往返于……之间 (wǎnɡ fǎn yú……zhī jiān): used for people or things travel between two places

Example:

Because of his work, he often travels between Guangzhou and Beijing (由于工作原因，他经常往返于广州和北京之间, Yóuyú ɡōnɡzuò yuányīn, tā jīnɡchánɡ wǎnɡfǎn yú Guǎnɡzhōu hé Běijīnɡ zhījiān)

Can you understand these examples of between/among? Let me know in the comments.

-Jia